IMAGE  EVALUATION 
TEST  TARGET  (MT-3) 


// 


^ 


:^ 


K 


1.0 


121 


1.1 


Li 

m 

tt  I4J   |22 

tt  HA   ■" 
£  l£°    12.0 

u 


11^        114 

1^  11^  U4 


^ 


^4 


'/ 


Hiotografdiic 

Sdesices 

Cornoration 


^ 


r<\^ 


\ 


v> 


^. 


^. 


<«^-V 


23  WBT  MAM 
WHSTIR,N.Y. 
(716)  171 


STRUT 

14SM 
4S03 


i^^^ 


o^ 


0 


. 


CIHM/ICMH 

Microfiche 

Series. 


CIHIVI/iCIVIH 
Collection  de 
microfiches. 


Canadian  Inatituta  for  Historical  IVIicroraproductions  /  institut  Canadian  de  microreproductions  historiquaa 


Technical  and  Bibliographic  Notas/Notat  tachniquaa  at  bibliographiquaa 


Th« 
tot 


Tha  Inatituta  haa  attamptad  to  obtain  tha  baat 
original  copy  avaiiabia  for  filming.  Faaturaa  of  thia 
copy  which  may  isa  bibliographically  uniqua, 
wliich  may  altar  any  of  tha  imagaa  in  tha 
raproduction,  or  which  may  aignificantly  changa 
tha  uaual  mathod  of  filming,  ara  chackad  balow. 


D 


D 


D 
D 


D 


Colourad  covara/ 
Couvartura  da  coulaur 


I     I   Covara  damagad/ 


Couvartura  andommagte 

Covara  raatorad  and/or  laminatad/ 
Couvartura  raataurte  at/ou  pailiculAa 


□   Covar  titia  misaing/ 
La 


tKra  da  couvartura  manqua 

Colourad  mapa/ 

Cartaa  g^ographiquas  an  coulaur 

Colourad  inic  (i.e.  other  than  blue  or  blacic)/ 
Encre  de  couieur  (i.e.  autre  que  bleue  ou  noire) 

Coloured  platea  and/or  illuatrationa/ 
Planchaa  at/ou  illuatrationa  en  couieur 


D 


Bound  with  other  material/ 
ReliA  avac  d'autrea  documenta 

Tight  binding  may  cauae  ahadowa  or  diatortion 
along  interior  margin/ 

La  re  liure  aerrie  peut  cauaar  de  I'ombre  ou  de  la 
diatortion  la  long  de  la  marge  IntArieure 

Blank  laavea  added  during  raatoration  may 
appear  within  tha  text.  Whenever  poaaible,  theae 
have  been  omitted  from  filming/ 
II  ae  peut  que  certainaa  pagea  blanchea  ajouttea 
lore  d'una  reatauration  apparaiaaant  dana  la  texte, 
maia,  loraque  cela  Atait  poaaible,  cea  pagea  n'ont 
pea  AtA  filmtea. 

Additional  commenta:/ 
Commentairea  auppiAmantairea; 


L'Inatitut  a  microfilm^  la  meilleur  exemplaire 
qu'il  lui  a  AtA  poaaible  de  ae  procurer.  Lea  dAtaiia 
de  cet  exemplaire  qui  aont  peut-Atre  uniquea  du 
point  de  vue  bibliographique,  qui  peuvent  modifier 
une  image  reproduite,  ou  qui  peuvent  exiger  une 
modification  dana  la  mAthode  normale  de  filmaga 
aont  indiqute  ci-daaaoua. 


D 
D 

n 

D 
0 
D 

n 

D 
D 


Coloured  pagea/ 
Pagea  de  couieur 

,  Pagea  damaged/ 
Pagea  andommagAea 

Pagea  raatorad  and/or  laminated/ 
Pagea  reataurAea  at/ou  peiiiculAea 

Pagea  diacolourad,  atainad  or  foxed/ 
Pagea  dteolorAea,  tachatflea  ou  piquAea 

Pagea  detached/ 
Pagea  d^tachiaa 

Showthrough/ 
Tranaparance 

Quality  of  print  variea/ 
Quality  inAgale  de  I'impreaaion 

Includea  aupplementary  material/ 
Comprend  du  material  auppMmantaira 

Only  edition  available/ 
Seule  Mition  diaponible 

Pagee  wholly  or  partially  obacured  by  errata 
alipa,  tiaauea,  etc.,  have  been  ref timed  to 
enaura  the  beat  poaaible  image/ 
Lea  pagea  totalement  ou  partiallement 
obacurciea  par  un  feuillet  d'errata,  une  palure, 
etc.,  ont  iti  filmtoa  A  nouveau  de  fapon  A 
obtanir  la  meilleure  image  poaaible. 


Thfl 
poi 
ofl 
flirt 


Orii 
bes 
the 
sioi 
oth 
fira 
aioi 
ori 


The 
aha 
TIN 
whi 

Ma 
diff 
ant 
bed 
rigl 
req 
me 


Thia  item  ia  filmed  at  tha  reduction  ratio  checked  below/ 

Ce  document  eat  filmA  au  taux  da  rMuction  indiqui  ci-daaaoua. 


10X 

14X 

18X 

2ZX 

28X 

30X 

y 

3 

12X 


16X 


aox 


24X 


28X 


32X 


Th«  copy  fllm«d  h«r«  has  b««n  raproduead  thanks 
to  tha  ganarosity  of: 

Library  of  tha  Public 
Archivat  of  Canada 


L'axamplaira  film4  f ut  raproduit  grioa  k  la 
gAnAroait*  da: 

la  bibiiothAqua  das  Archives 
publiquas  du  Canada 


Tha  imagas  appearing  hara  ara  tha  baat  quality 
possibia  conaidaring  tha  condition  and  lagibility 
of  tha  original  copy  and  in  Icaaping  with  tha 
filming  contract  spacifications. 


Original  copias  in  printad  papar  covars  ara  filmad 
beginning  with  tha  front  covar  and  ending  on 
tha  last  page  with  a  printad  or  illustrated  impres- 
sion, or  the  bacic  cover  when  appropriate.  All 
other  original  copies  ara  filmad  beginning  on  the 
first  page  with  a  printed  or  iliuatratad  imprea- 
sion,  and  ending  on  the  last  page  with  a  printad 
or  illustrated  Impression. 


The  last  recorded  frame  on  each  microfiche 
shall  contain  the  symbol  — '»•  (meaning  "CON- 
TINUED"), or  the  symbol  V  (meaning  "END"), 
whichever  applies. 


Les  images  suh^sntes  ont  4ti  reproduites  avac  la 
plus  grand  soin,  compta  tenu  de  la  condition  at 
da  la  nattet*  de  i'exemplaire  film*,  et  en 
conformity  avac  les  conditions  du  contrat  da 
filmaga. 

Les  exemplaires  originaux  dont  la  couvarture  an 
papier  eat  imprimAe  sent  filmte  en  commen9ant 
par  la  premier  plat  at  en  terminent  soit  par  la 
darnlAre  page  qui  comporta  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration,  soit  par  la  second 
plat,  salon  la  cas.  Tous  las  autras  exemplaires 
originaux  sent  filmis  en  commen^ant  par  la 
pramlAre  page  qui  comporte  une  empreinte 
d'impression  ou  d'illustration  et  en  terminent  par 
la  darnlAre  pege  qui  comporte  une  telle 
empreinte. 

Un  dee  symboles  sulvants  apparattra  sur  la 
darnlAre  image  de  cheque  microfiche,  selon  le 
ces:  le  symbols  — ►  signifie  "A  SUIVRE",  le 
symbols  ▼  signifie  "FIN". 


Maps,  plates,  charts,  etc.,  may  be  filmed  et 
different  reduction  retios.  Those  too  ierge  to  be 
entirely  included  In  one  exposure  ere  filmed 
beginning  in  the  upper  left  hand  corner,  left  to 
right  end  top  to  bottom,  js  msny  frames  ss 
required.  The  following  diegrams  iliuatrate  the 
method: 


Les  cartas,  planches,  tableaux,  etc.,  peuvent  Atre 
filmte  A  des  taux  de  rMuction  diffirents. 
Lorsque  le  document  est  trop  grand  pour  Atre 
reproduit  en  un  seul  ciichA,  11  est  film*  A  partir 
da  I'engle  supArieur  gauche,  de  geuche  A  droite, 
et  de  haut  an  baa,  an  pranant  la  nombre 
d'imeges  nAcessaira.  Les  diegremmes  suivsnts 
illustrent  le  mAthode. 


1  2  3 


1 

2 

3 

4 

5 

6 

THE 


i\ 


ATLANTIC  TELEGRAPH, 


3      I 


I 


.( 


} 


^^ 


u 


■ 


1 


\\ 


.( 


f 


REPORT  OF  PROCEEDINGS 


or  A 


MEETING  CALLED  TO  FURTHER  THE  ENTERPRISE 


or 


THE  ATLANTIC   TELEGRAPH, 


niLD  AT  THE  HALL  OF 


C|e  C^am&tr  of  ^mmxtt,  |ieto-|ork, 


WSDNEBDAT,  MARCH  4,  1863. 


PSBFABSD  rKDIB  THE  61)f  KSVISION  OF 


JOHN   AUSTIN    STEVENS,  Jr., 


SXOUTABT  OF  TnH  UEXTINO. 


JOHN   W.    AMERMAN,    PRINTER, 

No.  47  CXDAB  SiBEXT. 

1863. 


CALL  FOR  THE  MEETING. 


// 


^s 


2s'"ew.York,  March  2,  18C3. 
Sir, 

h.^  1  .  u  It  ''"^"^^"^^  ^"^  requested  at  a  meeting,  to  bo 
held  at  the  Chamber  of  Commerce,  ^o.  63  William-street, 
on  We  nesday,  the  4th  inst.,  at  one  o'clock,  when  some  new 
and  mterestmg  statements  and  information,  in  reference  to 
the  presen  position  and  future  prospects  of  the  Atlantic  Tele- 
graph,  will  be  submitted. 

Respectfully  yours, 

Petek  Cooper, 
A.  A.  Low, 
Wm.  E.  Dodge, 
E.  M.  Aecdibald, 
Cyrus  W.  Field, 
Watts  Sherman, 
Wilson  G.  Hunt. 


>IS 


THE  ATLANTIC  TELEGRAPH. 


A  MEETING  to  further,  and  bring  to  completion,  the  great 
Atlantic  Telegraph  enterprise,  was  held  in  the  Hall  of  the 
Cliamber  of  Commerce,  on  Wednesday,  March  4,  and  attend- 
ed by  many  of  the  leading  merchants  and  bankers  of  the 
city. 

lion.  George  Opdyke,  Mayor  of  the  city,  was  unanimously 
called  to  the  chair. 

Mr.  John  Austin  Stevens,  Jr.,  was  appointed  Secretary. 

Mayor  Opdyke,  on  taking  the  chair,  said  :  Gentlemen, — I 
suppose  the  object  of  this  meeting  is  suflSciently  explained  in 
the  circular  of  invitation.  It  is,  I  understand,  to  hear  some 
new  and  interesting  statements  relative  to  the  Atlantic  Tele- 
graph enterprise,  a  subject  of  great  interest,  the  importance 
of  which  cannot  be  over-estimated.  The  gentlemen  who  are 
connected  with  this  great  enterprise  have  certainly  deserved 
the  commendation  of  the  whole  civilized  world,  because  the 
work  is  one  in  which  the  whole  civilized  world  is  interested. 
Despite  all  obstacles,  in  the  face  of  many  difficulties  and 
pecuniary  disappointments,  they  still  persevere.  Let  us  all 
hope,  therefore,  that  they  will  soon  bring  the  great  enterprise 
to  a  full  and  perfect  oonsummation.  No  one,  X  am  sure, 
could  fail  to  rejoice  at  the  completion  of  that  great  connect- 
ing link,  in  what  has  been  happily  termed  "  the  whispering 
gallery  of  the  world."  Several  gentlemen  connected  with 
the  enterprise  are  now  present,  and  I  will  first  call  on  Mr. 
Peter  Cooper  to  give  us  whatever  information  he  possesses 
on  the  subject. 


Kemakks  of  Mi:.  Pkteu  Coopeu. 


Mr.  Chairman  and  (fontlcnion, — I  Hlmll  mainly  rely  upon 
Mr.  FrnLi),  who  is  in  full  j)083CS3ion  of  interoatin*,'  facts 
upon  the  Buhjc'ct,  which  ho  can  better  state  to  the  meot- 
inj^  and  to  tho  world  than  I  can.  1  will  merely  say  that 
tlio  advantages  of  an  ocean  telegraph,  that  would  connect 
our  country  by  an  almtjst  instantaneous  communication  with 
tho  vast  continent  of  Europe,  have  not,  1  believe,  fully  enter- 
ed into  the  minds  of  even  its  warmest  advocates.  The 
signal  benefits  that  will  result  from  tho  success  and  use 
of  an  ocean  cable  will  amply  compensate  for  all  tho  cost  of 
putting  down  and  completing  such  a  work.  1  will  only 
advert  to  two  of  these:  The  lirst,  and  not  tho  least, 
is  tho  advantage  that  would  follow  from  it  to  tho  great 
agricultural  interests  of  tho  country.  At  tho  })rcsent  titnc 
England  and  Franco  are  in  immediate  telegraphic  com- 
munication with  most  of  those  parts  of  tho  world  from 
which  supplies  of  provisions  can  bo  obtained.  This  ena- 
bles merchants  in  England,  who  desire  to  make  purchases 
of  cargoes  of  grain,  to  ascertain  at  once  what  such  cargoes 
may  cost  at  Odessa,  and  other  places  with  which  they  are  in 
communication.  They  can  judge  in  a  moment  what  that 
grain  will  bring  in  England,  and  hence  they  are  strongly 
tempted  to  order  grain  from  those  nearer  ports  with  which  they 
arc  in  instant  communication,  in  preference  to  ordering  it 
from  this  side  of  the  Atlantic,  at  tho  risk  of  so  much  delay, 
with  other  difficulties  and  dangers.  If  they  order  grain  from 
this  side,  they  must  Urst  write  and  ascertain  what  it  can  be 
got  at.  Then  some  weeks  must  elapse,  a  month  at  least,  be- 
fore they  can  got  an  answer,  and  then  the  order  may  come 
back  about  the  time  that  prices  change,  and  the  merchant 
may  not  bo  in  a  condition  to  give  a  prompt  order.  Hence  the 
temptation  is  to  order  at  once  at  those  places  where  they  can 
ascertain  with  promptitude  and  certainty  the  price  they  will 
have  to  pay,  and  the  profit  upon  which  they  can  calculate 
with  certainty.  But  w^hen  they  order  from  this  side,  or  when 
the  merchant  here  ships  to  the  European  market,  the  prices 


/^ 


/^ 


ruling  there  when  the  ^rain  arrives  may  all  be  ciianf^Gil, 
and  the  prices  obtained  mtiy  not  i)ay  the  cost.  It'wc  were 
in  immediate  communication  witli  Kur(»pe  wo  should  avoid 
sendini^  our  ^oods  to  unprolitablo  markets.  Hence  advan- 
tageous results  woulil  follow  to  the  great  agricultural  in- 
tcrestrt  of  the  country.  The  i)roiluco  merchants  of  Ameri- 
ca are  re;idy  and  willing  and  able  to  supply  all  parts  ol' 
Europe  with  the  necessary  ]irovisioii8.  That  is  one  great 
item  in  itself,  and  am^dy  suilieient,  if  there  were  no  other,  to 
pay  the  co&t  of  putting  down  and  completing  such  a  work. 

Uut  in  the  long  list  of  advantages  that  would  result,  the 
importance  of  which  none  can  at  present  estimate,  wo  may 
name  another,  which  comes  from  the  possibility  of  nns- 
iindcrstandings  arising  between  our  own  country  and  some  of 
the  great  governments  of  Europe.  To  avoid  these  misunder- 
standings, would  bo  one  great  step  taken  towards  universal 
peace,  and  to  avoid  them,  immediate  telegraphic  communi- 
cation is  necessary.  In  opening  tho  way  to  the  avoidance  of 
these  misunderstandings,  great  good  would  bo  done,  and,  in- 
deed, this  in  itself  would  compensate  for  all  the  outlay  neces- 
sary to  complete  a  work  of  this  kind.  To  show  somo  of  the 
advantages  arising  from  rapid  communication  by  means  of  the 
cable — the  advantage  of  transmittingintelligonce  of  important 
events — I  am  informed  that  but  two  weeks  ago  our  govern- 
ment, or  at  least  ono  of  tho  heads  of  departments,  would  have 
given  a  million  of  dollars  to  have  had  an  immediate  com- 
munication with  New-Orleans.  This  shows  tho  great  need 
there  is  for  immediate  communication,  and  also  how  soon  the 
transmission  of  important  messages  w^ould  pay  the  whole  cost 
of  the  work.  I  will  not  detain  you  longer,  as  Mr.  Field 
can  better  explain  tho  whole  subject,  with  which  he  is  so 
thoroughly  acquainted. 


Kemarks  of  Mk.  Cteus  W.  Field. 

Mr.  Field  then  addressed  tho  meeting.     lie  said  : 
Mr.  Chairman  and  Gentlemen, — I  shall  not  attempt  to  de- 
tain the  business  men  of  !N^ew-York  during  the  busiest  hours 
of  the  day,  by  any  extended  remarks.    Nor  will  I  argue 


the  importance  of  telegraphic  commnnication  across  the  At- 
lantic. At  this  very  moment  you  can  telegraph  from  San 
Francisco,  on  the  Pacific,  to  St.  Johns  in  Newfoundland,  a 
distance  of  more  than  6,500  miles ;  and  from  the  west  coast 
of  Ireland  to  every  principal  town  in  Europe,  to  Algiers 
in  Africa,  to  Malta  in  the  Mediterranean,  to  Alexandria 
in  Egypt,  to  Jubal  Island  in  the  Red  Sea,  to  Omsk  in  Sibe- 
ria, and  to  Bagdad  in  Turkish  Arabia.  And  now,  all 
that  is  required  to  bring  America  into  communication  with 
almost  the  whole  civilized  world,  is  a  connecting  link  across 
the  Atlantic.  I  propose,  simply,  to  give  you  a  few  facts,  and, 
as  there  is  a  very  intelligent  audience  here,  I  will  leave  them 
to  draw  their  own  conclusions  from  these  facts.  The  public 
generally  believe  that  submarine  cables  Lave  been  failures, 
and  they  have  come  to  that  conclusion  because  the  Atlantic 
lino,  to  which  the  attention  of  the  whole  civilized  world  has 
been  drawn,  did  not  succeed.  Kow,  what  is  the  truth  ?  I 
hold  in  my  hand  a  letter  addressed  to  mo  by  the  Gutta  Per- 
cha  Company,  who  manufactured  cores  for  nearly  all  the 
cables  in  tie  world.    They  write  : 

Gutta-Percha  Company^  \ 

London,  October  27, 1862.  J 

Cybus  W.  Fieij),  Esq., 

Atlantic  Telegrapft  Company ; 

Dear  Sir, — In  compliance  with  your  request,  we  enclose 
you  herewith  a  detailed  list  of  the  various  submarine  tele- 
graph cables  now  in  successful  operation,  the  insulated  wires 
for  which  have  been  manufactured  by  us  during  the  last 
eleven  yeai*s. 

From  this  you  will  observe  that  44  submarine  cables,  con- 
taining nearly  9,000  miles  of  conducting  wire,  are  in  daily 
use. 

Since  the  majority  of  these  cables  were  laid,  we  have,  as  is 
well  known  to  the  leading  electricians  and  engineers,  made 
many  and  very  important  improvements  in  our  manufacture 
of  insulated  wires,  and  we  feel  confident  that  at  the  present 
time  we  are  able  to  produce  a  core  which  will  in  every  re- 
spect meet  the  electrical  requirements  for  telegraphic  com- 
munication between  Ireland  and  Newfoundland. 


•>> 


I 


t- 


■v^ 


9 

We  shall  have  mnch  pleasure  in  undertaking  the  mannfao- 
tnre  of  a  core  for  such  a  work,  believing  that,  with  the  appli- 
ances now  available  for  laying  down  cables  in  deep  water, 
the  enterprise  will  be  attended  with  perfect  success. 

We  remain,  dear  sir. 

Yours  faithfully, 

The  Gutta-Percha  Company, 

Henry  Ford  Barclay. 

Thus  you  see  that  no  less  than  44  submarine  cables  have 
been  snccessftilly  laid,  and  are  to-day  in  actual  operation 
in  different  parts  of  the  world,  and  nearly  all  connecting 
and  communicating  with  each  other.  The  length  of  these 
lines  in  the  aggregate  amounts  to  8,906  miles.  One  of  these 
lines  has  been  eleven  years  in  operation.  Five  have  been  in 
operation  nine  years,  and  three  of  them  eight  years ;  and 
so  on.  1  hold  in  my  hand  a  letter  addressed  tome  by  Glass, 
Elliot  &  Co.,  who  have  manufactured  thirty  of  these  sub- 
marine cables  no.v  laid  througliout  the  world,  in  which  they 
state  their  experience  of  the  working  of  these  cables.  They 
write : 

London  J  October  20, 1862. 
Cyrus  W.  Field,  Esq., 

Atlantic  Telegraph  Company : 

Dear  Sir, — In  reply  to  your  inquiries  we  beg  to  state  : 

Tiiat  we  are  perfectly  confident  that  a  good  and  durable 
submarine  cable  can  be  laid  direct  from  Ireland  to  New- 
foundland, and  are  willing  to  undertake  the  contract  upon  the 
following  conditions : 

Fird.  That  we  shall  be  paid  each  week  our  actual  dis- 
bursements for  labor  and  material. 

Second.  That  when  the  cable  is  laid  and  in  working  order, 
wo  shall  receive,  for  our  time,  services  and  profit,  20  per 
cent,  on  the  actual  cost  of  the  line,  in  shares  of  the  Company, 
deliverable  to  us  in  twelve  equal  monthly  instalments,  at  the 
end  of  each  successive  month,  whereat  the  cable  shall  be 
found  in  working  order. 


10 


We  are  so  confident  that  this  enterprise  can  be  successful- 
ly carried  out,  that  we  will  make  a  cash  subscription  for  a 
sum  of  £25,000  sterling,  in  the  ordinary  capital  of  the  com- 
pany, and  pay  the  calls  on  the  same  when  made  by  the  com- 
pany. 

Annexed  we  beg  to  hand  you,  for  your  guidance,  a  list  of 
all  the  submarine  telegraph  cables,  manufactured  and  laid 
by  our  firm  since  we  commenced  this  branch  of  our  business, 
the  whole  mileage  of  which,  with  the  exception  of  the  short 
one  between  Liverpool  and  Holyhead,  which  has  been 
taken  up,  is  at  this  time  in  perfect  and  successful  working 
order.  The  cable  that  we  liad  the  honor  to  contract  for  and 
laid  down  for  the  French  Government,  connecting  France 
with  Algeria,  is  submerged  in  water  of  nearly  equal  depth 
to  any  we  should  have  to  encounter  between  Ireland  and 
Newfoundland. 

You  will  permit  ua  to  suggest  that  the  shore  end  of  the 
Atlantic  should  be  composed  of  very  heavy  wires,  as,  from 
our  experience,  the  only  accidents  that  have  arisen  to  any  of 
the  cables  that  we  have  laid,  have  been  caused  by  ship's 
anchors,  and  none  of  those  laid  out  of  anchorage  ground  have 
ever  cost  one  shilling  for  repair. 

The  cable  that  we  should  suggest  for  the  Atlantic  will  be 
an  improvement  on  all  those  yet  manufactured,  and  we  fi.rm- 
ly  believe  will  be  imperishable  when  once  laid. 

We  remain  yours  faithfully, 

Glass,  Elliot  &  Co. 

The  list  accompanying  this  letter  (see  Appendix)  contains 
all  the  cables  laid  by  them  from  1854:  to  Oct.,  1862 ;  the 'longest 
of  which  is  that  from  Malta  to  Alexandria,  a  distance  of  1,535 
miles.  The  distance  from  Ireland  to  Newfoundland  is  1,640 
nautical  miles.  This  company  is  the  wealthiest  concern  of  the 
kind  in  the  world.  They  manufacture  and  lay  down  their 
cables,  and  they  have  never  yet  failed  in  the  work  they  have 
once  undertaken,  nor  suffered  any  loss  from  incomplete  work. 
The  breaking  of  the  cable  referred  to  by  them,  is  that  of 
one  of  the  shortest  lines,  that  laid  between  Liverpool  and 


•> 

U 


7? 


11 

Holyhead,  which  is  not  a  loss  of  one  per  cent,  on  all  their 
work ;  and  oven  that  was  not  lost,  for  the  cable  itself  was 
subsequently  recovered.  With  regard  to  this,  tlio  company 
say  :  "  Every  cable  manufactured  and  laid  by  us  is  working 
successfully,  except  the  short  line  laid  in  shallow  water 
along  the  shore  between  Liverpool  and  Holyhead,  which  was 
broken  by  the  anchor  of  the  Royal  Charter,  in  the  gale  of 
wind,  just  before  she  was  wrecked,  and  which  has  since  been 
recovered.  None  of  the  cables  laid  by  us  out  of  anchorage 
ground  have  ever  cost  one  shilling  for  repairs."  Tlio  same 
company.  Glass,  Elliot  &  Co.,  have  also  addressed  a  letter 
to  me  relative  to  laying  down  a  submarine  cable  for  this 
government  from  Fortress  Monroe  to  Galveston,  in  Texas. 
They  will  manufacture  it  in  England,  bring  it  out  in  their 
own  ship,  lay  it  down,  and  only  ask  payment  when  it  is  in 
perfect  working  order.  If  it  is  not  a  success,  they  are  will- 
ing to  lose  the  whole  of  it ;  a  risk  sufficient  to  show  their  con- 
fidence in  laying  it  successfully.  From  a  letter  received  this 
morning  from  Prof.  Samuel  F.  B.  Morse,  I  will  read  an 
extract : 


New-Yorl,  March  3,  1863. 
Messrs.  Peter  Cooper,  A.  A.  Low  and  others  : 

Gentlemen, — While  I  regret  that  circumstances  will  pre- 
vent my  being  present  at  your  meeting  to-morrow,  on  the 
subject  of  the  Atlantic  telegraph  enterprise,  I  cannot  but  ex- 
press to  you  the  deep  interest  I  feel  in  every  effort  to  extend 
the  facilities  and  usefulness  of  the  telegraph,  in  whatever 
quarter  of  the  globe  it  is  made.    *    *     *    * 

If  lines  connecting  Europe  and  America  were  multiplied 
twenty  fold,  there  would  be  employment  for  all,  amply  re- 
munerative to  each. 

Wishing  you  that  success  which  you  eminently  deserve,  I 
am,  gentlemen,  with  great  respect, 

Your  ob't  serv't, 

Samuel  F.  B.  Morse. 


12 


Now,  a  great  many  people  believe  that  there  never  was  a 
message  sent  through  the  Atlantic  cable  when  it  was  laid. 
The  truth  however  is,  that  before  the  cable  failed,  no  less  than 
400  messages  were  sent  through.  Here  is  one  short  message 
sent  from  London  to  Halifax,  to  stop  the  embarkation  of  Eng- 
lish troops  at  that  port,  and  which,  I  was  assured  by  a  high  offi- 
cial in  London,  saved  the  English  government  £50,000.  The 
message  was  delivered  in  Halifax  on  the  evening  of  the  same 
day  that  it  was  sent  from  London.  The  message  ran  as  fol- 
lows: 

From   the    Military  Secretary  to    the  J  To  Gen.  Tkollope, 
Commander-in-Chief,  Horse  Guards,  v       Halifax, 
London.  )  Nova  Scotia. 

"  The  62d  regiment  is  not  to  return  to  England." 

Tliese  few  words  saved  the  government  the  expense  of  con- 
veying a  regiment  of  soldiers  from  Halifax  to  India,  where 
they  were  no  longer  wanted,  the  mutiny  there  having  been 
just  put  down.  Besides  this,  there  was  another  message  sent 
through  by  Mr.  Cunaed,  of  this  city,  to  London,  relative  to 
the  collision  between  the  Arabia  and  Europa  steamers.  The 
message  was  as  follows  : 

From  Cunaed,  New- York,  August  17,  1858,  to  D.  &  C. 
MoIvEE,  Liverpool : 

"  Arabia  in  collision  with  Enropa,  Cape  Eace.  Saturday, 
Arabia  on  way  here  slightly  injured.  Enropa  lost  bowsprit, 
cutwater;  stern  sprung;  will  remain  in  St.  Johns,  New- 
foundland, 10  days  from  16th.  Persia  calls  at  St.  Johns  for 
mail  and  passengers.    No  loss  of  life  or  limb." 

That  message  was  received  with  the  greatest  anxiety.  I 
received  a  letter  not  long  ago  from  Mr.  Cunaed,  who  was 
then  in  England,  describing  the  eifect  the  receipt  of  this 
intelligence  through  the  cable  had  upon  the  public  mind  in 
England.  When  the  first  Atlantic  cable  was  laid,  it  was  a 
mere  experiment.  Up  to  that  time  cables  had  never  been 
laid  in  so  deep  water.  We  were  then  merely  groping  in  the 
dark.  We  did  not  know  the  great  difference  in  the  trans- 
mitting power  of  copper  taken  from  different  mines.  The 
result  of  late  experiments  proved  the  fact,  that  there  was 
more  than   iO  per  cent,  of  difference  in  the  transmitting 


18 


power  of  copper  from  different  miiies.  Copper  taken  from 
the  Lake  Superior  mines  — that,  I  believe,  being  the  best — 
will  transmit  more  tlian  doable  the  number  of  words  a 
minute  that  a  cable  composed  of  inferior  copper  can  trans- 
mit. Here  is  a  piece  of  the  late  Atlantic  cable,  recently  taken 
up  from  the  bottom  of  the  sea,  upon  which  it  will  be  seen 
the  water  had  not  the  slightest  effect,  and  that  it  is  as  perfect 
now  as  the  day  it  was  laid  down.  It  contained  93  pounds  of 
copper  wire  per  mile.  The  present  cable  contains  560  pounds 
of  pure  copper,  which  will  increase  the  power  of  transmitting 
intelligence  by  six  times  as  many  words  a  minute,  and  is  the 
most  perfect  cable  that  can  be  made  at  the  present  time. 

The  company  has  the  exclusive  right  of  laying  submarine 
cables  for  a  long  term  of  years  along  the  coast  of  Labrador, 
Newfoundland,  Prince  Edward's  Island  and  the  State  of 
Maine.  That  gives  a  monopoly  to  encourage  the  company  in 
carrying  out  this  great  and  important  enterprise  of  connecting 
the  different  parts  of  the  world  together.  The  English  gov- 
ernment have  agreed  to  guarantee  the  interest  on  the  capital 
at  8  per  cent,  per  annum,  daring  the  operation  and  working 
of  the  cable,  and  also  agreed  with  our  government  to  give 
each  £14,000  per  annum,  to  encourage  the  enterprise;  and, 
if  the  business  for  any  one  year,  sent  by  the  government, 
ehonld  exceed  that  sum,  they  agree  to  pay  the  excess. 

The  cable  could  only  be  injured  by  anchors  of  ships  near 
the  shores ;  but  a  covering  has  been  devised  which  will  pre- 
vent them  even  from  this  casualty.  This  plan  is  to  cover 
them  well  with  iron  in  shallow  water,  so  that,  if  an  anchor 
catches  hold,  they  cannot  be  injured.  I  have  seen  a  cable  so 
firmly  laid,  that  when  the  anchors  of  vessels  caught  in  it, 
the  anchors  were  lost,  while  the  cable  was  uninjared. 

This  enterprise  has  been  taken  up  with  great  spirit  in 
England.  I  recently  received  a  list  of  subscriptions,  among 
which  I  see  the  name  of  Geobob  Peabody,  Joshua  Bates,  of 
the  house  of  BABma  Bbos.,  and  others,  members  of  the  most 
prominent  firms  in  England.  The  company  intend  to  pre- 
sent the  enterprise  to  the  people  of  this  country,  and  to 
urge  them  to  snbscribe  to  the  stock  when  they  have  heard  all 
the  facts.    The  shares  were  formerly  one  thousand  pounds. 


u 


but  now  they  are  fixed  at  £5  per  share,  so  that  almost  all 
can  become  shareholders. 

It  may  be  asked,  will  the  line,  if  completed,  have  as  much 
business  as  it  can  do?  That  is  readily  answered.  Why, 
the  lino  to  San  Francisco,  which  has  been  in  operation  but 
a  short  time,  has  as  much  business  as  it  can  do.  It  has  earn- 
ed, in  fact,  more  than  enough  to  pay  the  whole  cost.  If  you 
consider  that  the  San  Francisco  line  connects  with  only  a 
single  State,  containing  a  few  hundred  thousand  people, 
would  there  not  be  business,  think  you,  enough  for  a  line 
that  should  connect  the  United  States  and  British  Provinces 
with  every  commercial  town  in  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa  ? 
To  express  my  own  opinion,  from  pretty  large  experience  on 
the  subject,  I  do  not  believe  that  ten  cables  would  begin 
to  do  the  work  which  would,  in  a  short  time,  be  given  to  it. 
The  great  commerce  of  our  ports  demands  prompt  communi- 
cation with  Europe.  You  cannot  write  to  England  and  re- 
ceive a  reply  under  twenty  days. 

From  all  the  estimates  the  company  have  been  able  to 
obtain,  and  we  have  consulted  the  best  authorities  in  England, 
they  estimate  that  the  line  will  be  able  to  transmit  at  the 
lowest,  twelve  words,  and  at  the  highest,  eighteen  words 
a  minute.  Then  it  would  be  working  twenty-four  hours  a 
day,  because  one  end  would  be  practically  in  San  Fran- 
cisco, while  the  other  would  be  in  Siberia ;  at  one  place  it 
being  mid-day,  while  at  the  other  it  would  be  midnight. 
Thus  it  would  be  kept  working  the  whole  twenty-four  hours. 
But  estimating  it  as  working  sixteen  hours  a  day  only,  and 
for  300  days,  though  it  would  probably  have  to  work  every 
day  in  the  year,  that  would  give,  at  the  rate  fixed,  2s.  6d.  a 
word,  a  net  income  on  a  single  cable  of  £413,000  per  annum. 

The  company,  if  the  shareholders  should  divide  all  the 
profits,  would  pay  40  per  cent. ;  but  it  is  recommended  that 
they  should  receive  only  eighteen  per  cent,  on  their  invest- 
ments, the  balance  to  be  used  as  a  fund  to  lay  down 
further  cables,  without  increasing  the  capital.  It  is  esti- 
mated that  this  surplus,  if  allowed  to  accumulate,  would 
enable  them  to  lay  another  cable  in  1866  ;  another  iu  1867, 


15 

one  more  in  18G8,  two  in  18G9,  and  three  in  1870;  so  that, 
including  the  first,  you  would  have  nine  cables  working  in 
1870,  without  increasing  the  capital  stock  at  all. 

Eemasks  of  Mr.  "William  E.  Dodge. 

Mr.  "Wm.  E.  Dodoe  said  :  I  have  listened  with  much  pleas- 
ure to  the  very  simple  and  satisfactory  statement  just  made,  in 
connection  with  the  Atlantic  telegraph.  The  fact  that  the  cable 
originally  laid  was  almost  the  first  of  the  kind,  and  cer- 
tainly the  first  laid  in  deep  water,  ought  to  satisfactorily  ac- 
count for  the  disastrous  result.  I  was  in  Liverpool  at  the  time  of 
the  collision  between  the  steamers  Arabia  and  Europa,  and 
there  was  the  greatest  solicitude  manifested  ;  crowds  flocked 
to  the  Exchange  anxiously  awaiting  the  arrival  of  the  steamer. 
The  morning  after  I  went  to  the  Exchange  and  found  it 
crowded  with  people,  and  at  every  one  of  the  pillars  in  that 
large  building  people  were  gazing  at  the  report  just  read  to 
you  by  Mr.  Field.  It  was  the  universally  expressed  feeling 
in  Liverpool  that  day,  that  if  the  Atlantic  telegraph  never 
did  any  thing  else  but  to  assure  the  people  of  the  safety  of 
these  steamers,  without  having  to  wait  the  arrival  of  a  mail, 
it  had  amply  compensated  for  all  that  had  been  done.  I 
have  heard  gentlemen  say  here,  that  they  did  not  believe 
there  was  ever  a  telegraphic  communication  transmitted  over 
the  Atlantic  telegraph.  I  was  always  happy  to  be  able  to 
state  beyond  all  question,  that  the  communication  dispatched 
by  Mr.  Cunaed  to  England,  in  reference  to  the  collision,  did 
pass  through.  I  saw  myself  the  deep  interest  manifested  by 
the  people  in  Liverpool,  when  the  substance  of  that  dispatch 
was  announced  ;  and  I  have  ever  since,  as  I  had  always  been, 
enthusiastic  in  regard  to  the  results  of  the  laying  down  of  the 
Atlantic  cable.  The  intelligent  merchants  and  business  men 
of  this  city  only  want  to  have  the  subject  brought  before 
them,  to  have  their  minds  at  once  disabused  of  all  that  dis- 
couragement which  resulted  from  the  first  disaster.  We 
are  apt  to  be  discouraged  under  failure.  But  we  have  now 
reliable  data  to  go  on.  It  is  no  longer  an  experiment ;  cables 
have  been  submerged  for  eleven  years,  and  in  successful 
operation,  without  a  single  failure.    Why  should  we  doubt 


16 

for  a  single  moment  that  tliis  cable  can  be  laid;  which, 
when  laid,  will  unite  in  one  throb  this  whole  continent  with 
the  rest  of  the  world ;  when  we  will  have  the  power  almost  in 
a  moment  to  communicate  with  friends  socially  or  on  busi- 
ness all  over  Europe.  It  is  a  matter  of  the  most  vital  import- 
ance, and  we  felt  it  such  at  the  time  we  supposed  the  cable 
was  a  success,  and  the  public  mind  was  greatly  discouraged 
when  it  was  found  to  be  a  failure.  The  public  only  want  to 
be  assured  of  its  coming  success.  If  they  could  have  listened 
to  the  statements  just  made,  they  would  feel  that  it  was  not 
only  a  most  desirable  undertaking,  but  that  it  could  not  fail 
to  be  remunerative  to  every  individual  that  subscribes  to  it. 

Mr.  Cooper. — I  intended,  this  morning,  to  have  brought 
with  me  to  this  meeting  a  little  specimen  of  the  Atlantic 
cable,  which  would  show  clearly  the  cause  of  the  failure  in  the 
cable  that  was  laid  down.  In  that  little  piece  of  cable  which 
was  taken  up  is  clearly  defined  the  cause  of  the  failure,  and  but 
for  that  cause  it  would  to-day,  in  all  probability,  be  successfully 
working,  insignificant  and  small  as  it  appears.  Unfortu- 
nately, in  the  manufacture  ©f  the  cable,  when  it  was  being 
passed  out  of  the  shop  into  the  vat,  intended  to  be  kept  al- 
ways overflowed  with  water,  the  water  was  allowed  to  flow 
oS  a  little,  and  a  part  of  it  was  thus  exposed,  of  a  hot  day,  to 
the  sun,  which  melted  the  gutta  percha,  leaving  but  a  thin 
coating  to  protect  the  copper.  That  accounts  fully  for  the 
cause  of  the  disaster,  but  for  which  that  cable,  in  all  proba- 
bility, would  be  at  work  successfully  to-day. 

Mr.  E.  E.  MoBGAN  remarked,  that  the  difficulty  appeared 
to  him  to  be  in  the  paying  out  of  the  cable.  He  asked  if  a 
cable  could  be  found  to  sink  through  the  heavy  pressure  of 
water  at  great  depths. 

Mr.  Field. — ^I  cannot  answer  that  question  better  than  by 
asking  you  if  a  cable  of  that  character  can  be  laid.  (Showing 
the  cable.) 

Mr.  MoEGAN. — I  yield.  No  doubt  about  it  at  all ;  you 
could  pay  out  that  cable  with  your  hand.    But  there  is 


17 

another  thinn; ;  after  making  this  long  wire,  it  is  important 
that  there  shall  bo  no  hole  in  any  part  of  it.  For  this  pur- 
pose I  think  that  it  should  be  subjected  to  a  test  through 
a  cylinder,  or  other  proper  machine  for  the  purpose,  and 
then  tested  mile  by  mile,  according  to  the  heaviest  pressure 
it  would  bo  subjected  to  in  water  when  submerged.  There 
was  also  the  question,  whether  the  cable  could  bo  so  tested 
as  to  prove  its  efficiency  to  communicate  while  under  a  cer- 
tain amount  of  pressure. 

Mr.  Field. — Immediately  after  the  failure  of  the  Atlantic 
telegraph,  at  the  request  of  the  company,  the  English 
government  appointed  a  commission,  composed  of  nine  mem- 
bers, which  sat  for  two  years,  and  made  a  most  elaborate  re- 
port, filling  a  large  book,  in  which  they  state  the  importance 
of  having  all  cables  tested  under  a  great  pressure,  and  they 
tried  the  experiment  of  a  pressure  equal  to  eight  miles  of 
water.  The  result  was,  that  the  cable  was  not  injured  by 
that  pressure.  All  cables  now  manufactured  are  passed 
through  immense  cylinders,  and  every  three  miles  of  its 
length  is  fully  tested.  The  longest  cable  laid  by  the  English 
government  is  1,535  miles,  every  single  inch  of  which  was 
tested,  and  it  has  never  failed  for  a  moment  since  it  was  put 
down,  nor  has  it  cost  a  penny  in  repairs. 

Mr.  Morgan. — I  never  thought  it  required  a  single  argu- 
ment to  prove  the  profit  of  such  an  undertaking.  The  only 
question  with  me,  was  the  possibility  of  laying  it  down  ;  but 
now  seeing  this  piece  of  cable,  I  am  perfectly  satisfied  it  can 
be  laid,  and  I  am  very  glad,  indeed,  that  my  only  doubt  has 
been  thus  cleared  away.  I  have  been  much  interested  in 
submarine  telegraphs,  and,  when  I  commanded  a  ship,  I 
made  some  experiments  as  to  the  means  of  excluding  the  ef- 
fect of  water  upon  submerged  substances,  so  I  know  that 
there  are  things  which  will  keep  water  out.  On  the  whole, 
I  am  convinced  of  the  success  of  this  enterprise  this  time. 

Mr.  E.  CuNARD. — ^The  fact  that  messages  have  been  sent 
across  the  Atlantic  by  the  electric  telegraph  ought  to  be 
suflicient  to  remove  all  doubt  of  the  value  of  the  enterprise 

2 


i 


IS 

from  the  public  mind  ;  but  a  doubt  still  exists  in  the  minds 
of  many  intelligent  persons  whether  any  telegraphic  message 
has  ever  been  sent  across.  Mr.  Field  has  referred  to  the  in- 
formation of  the  collision  between  the  Arabia  and  Europa, 
off  Cape  Eace,  which  was  transmitted  to  England  by  the 
telegraph — and  as  I  can  speak  from  personal  knowledge,  a 
history  of  this  message  may  not  be  uninteresting  to  this 
meeting.  I  was  in  London  in  1858,  when  Mr.  Lamson,  and 
Mr.  Saward,  the  Secretary  of  the  Atlantic  Telegraph  Com- 
pany, called  on  my  father,  on  Friday,  the  20th  of  August, 
and  informed  him  that  a  collision  had  taken  place  between 
the  Europa  and  Arabia,  and  that  no  lives  were  lost;  that  the 
operator  at  Newfoundland  had  received  a  message  from  my 
office  in  New- York,  with  a  pressing  request  to  him  to  forward 
it,  but  as  he  had  positive  instructions  not  to  send  any  private 
message  till  the  line  was  opened  to  the  public,  he  tele- 
graphed to  the  Directors  in  London  that  he  had  an  import- 
ant message  and  asked  permission  to  forward  it.  The  Di- 
rectors desired  him  to  send  the  purport  of  the  message  to 
them,  and  that  they  would  communicate  it.  I  called  at  four 
P.  M.,  at  the  office  of  the  Telegraph  Company,  and  pointing 
out  to  the  Secretary  the  importance  of  having  the  full  partic- 
ulars, requested  him  to  allow  the  operator  to  transmit  the 
message,  which  he  consented  to  do,  and  telegraphed  to  New- 
foundland to  transmit  the  message ;  it  was  received  in  Lon- 
don three  hours  after,  and  was  published  in  the  Times  of 
the  next  morning.  This  message  was  sent  from  my  office  in 
New- York  late  on  Tuesday  afternoon,  and,  after  having  been 
detained  forty-eight  hours  in  Newfoundland,  was  delivered 
in  London  on  Friday. 


Mr.  Field. — In  the  last  interview  I  had  with  a  member 
of  the  English  government,  I  was  trying  to  impress  upon 
him  the  great  importance  an  Atlantic  telegraph  would  be 
to  Great  Britain ;  telling  him  that  if  the  cable  was  laid, 
he  could,  every  hour  of  the  day,  communicate  with  the 
governors  of  five  British  provinces.  The  Admiralty  could 
communicate  with  the  same  rapidity  and  frequency  with 
Halifax,  their  principal  naval  station  in  this  part  of  the  world. 


10 

and  llio  commandor-in-chiof  could  transmit  speedy  orders  to 
all  military  commandants  in  the  provinces.  And  I  referred 
to  the  messaf»o  which  had  prevented  the  embarkation  of  a 
regiment,  and  the  great  expense  thus  avoided.  1  also  re- 
ferred to  the  advantage  that  would  further  follow  to  the 
British  government  by  being  in  a  position  to  communicate  at 
any  moment  with  their  minister  at  Washington,  Lord  Lyons. 
To  which  ho  replied :  "  Mr.  Field,  I  admit  every  thing 
you  say  with  regard  to  the  great  importance  the  undertaking 
would  be  to  our  government.  13ut  it  would  not  bo  one  hun- 
dredth part  of  the  benefit  to  Great  Britain  that  it  would  bo  to 
the  American  government  and  the  American  people.  This 
work  would  connect  England  with  America,  to  be  sure,  but  it 
would  do  far  more  for  you,  for  it  would  connect  xYmcrica 
with  all  Europe,  Asia  and  Africa.  In  a  few  months,  when 
the  lino  from  England  to  India  shall  be  completed,  your 
merchants  will  have  no  chanco  to  compete  with  the  English 
merchants,  unless  you  complete  this  work.  I  believe  that 
the  importance  of  this  work  to  America,  the  laying  down  of  a 
submarine  telegraph  connecting  Newfoundland  and  Ireland, 
cannot  be  estimated."  This  was  the  view  taken  by  that  en- 
lightened man  on  the  subject.  I  believe  that  the  plateau  lying 
between  Newfoundland  and  Ireland  has  been  placed  there 
by  Providence  for  his  own  good  purposes.  Now,  a  cable  has 
been  already  laid.  Four  hundred  messages  have  been  sent 
through.  Shall  Americans,  and  shall  Englishmen  say,  that 
they  cannot  do  again  what  they  did  once  before  ?  For  my 
own  part,  I  believe  it  can  and  will  be  done. 


Mr.  Cooper  mentioned  one  more  item  of  interest.  The 
British  government,  since  the  failure  of  the  cable,  have  au- 
thorized and  sent  out  two  or  three  expeditions,  which  have 
taken  surveys  of  the  plateau  on  the  shore  ends,  and  they 
have  found  on  the  Newfoundland  coast  a  much  more  favor- 
able place  to  lay  the  cable,  where  the  slant  of  the  shore  is 
less  abrupt,  and  the  whole  ground  well  adapted  to  it.  The 
point  found  on  Trinity  Bay  is  altogether  more  favorable  than 
that  originally  selected,  shortening  the  distance  forty  miles, 
an  item  of  considerable  interest. 


20 


Remarks  of  Mk.  A.  A.  Low. 


Mr.  Low. — I  have  been  rcqucsteil  to  present  tlio  following 
resolution : 

lieiolvedy  That  in  tho  opinion  of  this  meeting  a  cable  can, 
in  tho  present  state  of  telegraph  ecienco,  be  laid  between 
Newfoundland  and  Ireland  with  almost  absolute  certainty  of 
success,  and,  when  laid,  will  prove  of  the  greatest  benefit  to 
tho  people  of  tho  two  hemispheres,  and  also  profitable  to  the 
shareholders ;  it  is,  therefore,  recommended  to  the  public  to 
aid  the  undertaking. 

It  may,  perhaps,  become  mo  to  say  a  few  words  with  re- 
gard to  tho  resolution  which  I  submit,  as  I  stand  in  the  same 
relation  to  this  entcrpriso  as  others  who  have  spoken.  Of 
the  benefit  of  a  cable  to  connect  this  country  with  Great 
Britain  it  is  too  late  to  doubt.  AVo  can  assume  the  advan- 
tages that  would  accrue  to  both  countries  from  such  a  work, 
as  very  great ;  and  no  man  here  needs  to  bo  told  how 
great  those  advantages  would  be.  Mr.  Field  refers,  in 
proof  of  the  benefits  that  would  accrue,  to  those  which  have 
followed  the  establishment  of  telegraphic  communication 
with  California.  On  this  point  I  can  state  that  one  of  the  first 
messages  sent  by  me  over  the  wires  to  California,  which 
cost  $30,  was  worth  several  hundred  dollars  for  every 
single  dollar  it  cost.  And  every  house  in  tho  city  that  has 
any  connection  with  the  China  trade  is  familiar  with  the 
fact,  that  almost  every  week,  if  not  every  day,  the  destina- 
tion of  ships  sailing  from  San  Francisco  is  determined  upon 
here,  and  vessels  are  dispatched  from  that  port  with  the 
same  facility  as  if  they  were  lying  in  the  port  of  New- 
York.  No  man  can  estimate  tho  value  of  such  rapid  commu- 
nication. But  the  intercourse  with  San  Francisco  is  limited, 
compared  with  the  vast  intercourse  that  is  open  to  us  with 
Great  Britain.  I  think  only  one  or  two  questions  remain 
to  be  considered  in  connection  with  the  undertaking.  I 
have  heard  what  has  been  said  of  the  doubts  that  rest  upon 


91 

men's  minds  ns  to  a  racssngo  linring  ever  been  sent  by  tlic 
Atlantic  cal)lo.  It  Rccms  impopsib^o  tbftt  in  these  cnli|^ht- 
cnctl  (lavs  bucU  doubts  can  survive  the  welbknown  fact, 
patent  at  tlio  time  tu  every  ond,  that  messngcs  were  pent. 
I  renicinbcr,  in  addition  to  tlie  facts  already  stated,  that  the 
first  news  of  the  Peaco  between  China  and  Great  Jlritain  was 
received  over  the  Atlantic  cable.  And  it  isii  >t  to  be  doubted, 
because  the  fact  was  confirmed  tlirou«:;h  subsequent  intolli- 
gonco  by  mail.  Every  one  familiar  with  the  China  trade 
knows  that  the  news  came  by  telegraph,  and  was  true. 

An  objection  to  this  enterprise,  in  the  minds  of  many  of  our 
citizens,  grows  out  of  the  feeling  that  our  friendly  relations 
with  Great  IJritain  may  possibly  be  interrupted.    Tiiis  tele 
graph  takes  its  start  from  English  territory  and  terminates 
on   English  territory.    And  it  is  said  that  in  the  event  of  u 
war  with  England,  it  would  be  under  the  exclusive  control  of 
Great  Britain.    That  is  all  very  true,  sir,  and  it  may  bo  an 
objection  in  the  minds  of  men  to  taking  stock  in  the  com- 
pany.   In  regard  to  that,  I  can  only  say  that  1  am  one  of  the 
original  subscribers,  and  that  this  consideration  has  not  de- 
terred mo  from  subscribing  a  second  time  as  largely  as  before, 
and  on  my  own  individual  account  twice  as  largely  as  at  first. 
Yet  I  havo  no  possible  interest  beyond  that  which  every 
individual  has  who  takes  stock  in  the  company.    I  embarked 
in  the  undertaking  on  its  own  merits,  accepting  all  its  haz- 
ards.   Any  one  listening  to  Mr.  Field,  as  frequently  and 
as  attentively  as  I  have,  with  regard  to  this  subject,  could 
not  long  entertain  a  doubt  as  to  the  success  of  the  effort. 
Ho  has  studied  it  in  all  its  bearings,  and  with  the  aid  of  the 
science  and  intelligence  so  readily  at  command  on  the  other 
side  of  the  ocean,  where  he  has  had  the  benefit  of  an  experi- 
ence far  exceeding  that  of  this  country,  with  regard  to  ocean 
telegraphs.    I  am  confident  that  whatever  hesitation  may 
for  a  time  retard  the  work,  it  will  not  be  of  that  kind  to  defeat 
the  enterprise.    With  regard  to  the  argument  that  this  tele- 
graph is  in  the  power  of  the  English  government,  and  that 
we  would  be  debarred  from  its  use  in  time  of  war,  let  it  be 
borne  in  mind  that  it  may  be  built  by  Great  Britain  without 
our  co-operation.    The  English  government  is  alive  to  all  the 


23 


great  necessities  of  the  day ;  I  wish,  iikdeed,  our  own  were 
equally  alive  to  the  urgencies  of  the  age. 

The  English  government,  as  I  said,  is  alive  to  all  the  great 
necessities  of  the  times,  and  they  will  assuredly  lay  the  tele- 
graph, whether  we  work  with  them  or  not.  If  this  govern- 
ment and  people  participate  with  the  government  and  people 
of  Great  Uritain  in  the  work,  it  will  be  done  under  treaty 
stipulations,  which  will  secure  to  our  country  efifectually  great 
advantages  and  facilities.  I  have  faith  in  Great  Britain, 
and  I  believe  that  if  Great  Britain  enters  into  any  compact 
with  this  country  she  will  bo  true  to  her  plighted  faith.  I 
have  little  fear  on  that  score.  I  have  recently  given  ex- 
pression to  complaints  against  Groat  Britain,  and  I  have  de- 
plored the  action  of  her  people  and  the  non-action  of  the 
government.  I  have  done  so  as  an  American  citizen,  alive 
to  the  honor  of  oiir  country  and  the  sensibilities  of  our  peo- 
ple. I  have  done  so,  sir,  not  when  smarting  under  a  recent 
misfortune,  for  this  will  not  aggravate  my  complaint  or  add 
to  its  intensity.  But  I  have  spoken  as  I  feel,  and  as  every 
man  is  bound  to  speak,  who  has  at  heart  the  good  of  his  coun- 
try, and  who  would  exert,  in  a  legitimate  and  proper  man- 
ner, any  influence  on  the  people  and  government  of  Great 
Britain,  such  as  may  tend  to  avert  the  evils  of  war.  Nor  do 
1  intend,  in  consequence  of  what  has  occurred,  to  add  to  what 
I  have  had  occasion  to  say  in  this  Chamber  at  other  times. 
But  while  I  deplore  the  agency  of  Great  Britain,  and  of  the 
people  of  Great  Britain,  in  permitting  vessels  like  the  Ala- 
bama and  Oreto  to  go  forth  to  destroy  our  commerce,  I  have 
that  faith  in  the  British  government  to  believe,  that  when  it 
understands  all  that  is  justly  felt  on  this  side  of  the  water, 
the  evil  will  be  corrected.  And  such  is  my  faith  in  regard 
to  this  enterprise,  that  if  Great  Britain  should  enter  into 
stipulations  with  tliis  country,  and  the  telegraph  be  completed 
under  these  stipulations,  I  cannot  doubt  that  those  stipula- 
tions would  be  honorably  and  faithfully  fulfilled.  Our  peo- 
ple ought  not  to  be  deterred  by  unworthy  considerations 
from  taking  part  in  an  enterprise  called  for  by  all  the  intelli- 
gence and  wisdom  of  our  times — such  an  enterprise  as  that 
now  suggested.    There  is  a  risk,  which  may  well  be  incurred 


23 

in  view  of  all  tho  advantages  the  work  presents.  I,  there- 
fore, move  the  adoption  of  tho  resolution  which  I  have  had 
tho  iionor  to  present. 

The  resolution  was  seconded  by  Mr.  Coopek,  and  nnani- 
mously  adopted. 

Thanks  to  the  Cuaieman. 

Tho  Mayor  havinrr  vacated  the  ciiair,  and  Mr.  Cooper 
having  tiiken  it,  E.  M.  AiicnmALD,  Esq.,  British  Consul,  said, 
I  move  that  tho  thanks  of  tho  meeting  be  presented  to  tho 
Mayor  for  tho  able  and  dignified  manner  in  which  ho  has 
presided.  The  subject  which  has  been  under  consideration 
is  one  of  great  public  importance,  particularly  to  tho  City  of 
New- York,  and  it  is  one  that  ought  to  interest  its  chief  magis- 
trate, lie  was  glad  to  see  that  that  gentleman  had  shown  his 
sense  of  the  value  of  the  subject,  in  attending  this  meeting. 
In  reference  to  the  great  work  itself,  no  argument  was  neces- 
sary to  enhance  its  importance.  Such  arguments  were  8U})er- 
lluous  at  this  time,  especially  in  this  community.  Their 
opinion  of  it  was  emphatically  pronounced  five  years  af'o. 
I  will,  therefore,  conclude,  by  moving  that  the  thanks  of  this 
meeting  be  presented  to  his  Iionor,  the  Mayor,  for  the  able  and 
dignified  manner  with  which  he  has  presided  over  the  meet- 
ing of  this  day. 

The  motion  was  carried  unanimously. 

Mr.  DoDQE  suggested  that  a  book  for  subscriptions  be 
opened.  There  were  many  persons  who  would  gladly  sub- 
scribe if  a  book  was  opened  for  the  purpose.  lie  had  not 
communicated  with  any  person  on  the  subject,  but  ho  mere- 
ly wished  that  some  plan  of  this  sort  would  be  devised.  lie 
would  ask  how  large  a  sum  had  been  subscribed  in  England. 

Mr.  Field  stated,  that  at  last  accounts,  Feb.  7,  the  sub- 
scriptions had  reached  £195,000,  and  he  had  no  doubt  they 
would  reach  £250,000  at  the  close  of  February.  In  this 
country,  Mr.  Petee  Coopee  and  Mr.  Wilson  G.  Hunt  had 
subscribed  £2,000  each,  and  Mr.  D.  D.  Field,  £1,000  ;  Mr.  A. 
A.  Low,  £1,000  ;  Duncan,  Shekman  ife  Co.,  £1,000,  and  other 
gentlemen  various  amounts.  Mr.  Field  placed  a  copy  of  the 
original  subscription- book  on  the  table. 


24 

Several  gentlemen  then  entered  their  names  as  subscribers, 
among  whom  were — 

AViLLiAM  E.  Dodge,  for £1,000 

Edward  Cunard,       " £1,000 

August  Belmont,       " £500 

Mr.  Dodge  thought  the  matter  of  snch  importance,  that  a 
Committee  ought  to  be  appointed  to  call  a  public  meeting, 
before  whom  the  whole  subject  should  be  explained,  and 
with  tlie  view  of  obtaining  subscriptions.  He  moved  the 
appointment  of  a  Committee  for  that  purpose,  and  that  the 
Chairman  appoint  the  Committee. 

The  motion  was  unanimously  adopted. 

Mr.  Field  said  the  subscription-book  would  be  always 
found  at  his  office ;  subscriptions  would  also  bo  received  at 
Mr.  IIalliday's  office.  No.  6  Wall-street. 

Tiie  Mayor  named  the  following  committee  : 


A.  A.  Low, 
Peter  Cooper, 
William  E.  Dodge, 
Cyrus  W.  Field, 
Edward  Cunard, 
August  Belmont, 


William  Chauncey, 

Wilson  G.  Hunt, 

Horatio  Allen, 

E.  E.  Morgan, 

E.  M.  Archibald, 

John  Austin  Stevens,  Jr. 


On  motion,  the  Mayor  was  added  to  the  Committee. 


Mayor  Opdyke's  Eemarks. 

Mayor  Opdyke  said  that  this  subject  had  never  before  en- 
listed his  special  attention.  He  was  not  one  of  the  earlier 
or  later  subscribers  to  the  stock ;  but  he  was  now  entirely 
satisfied,  from  the  clear,  able  and  convincing  statement  made 
by  Mr.  Field,  that  the  enterprise  must  now  prove  a  perfect 
success.  In  view  of  the  increased  scientific  and  artistic  know- 
ledge that  will  be  brought  to  its  aid,  and  from  all  the  ad- 
vantages derived  from  experience  since  the  first  attempt  was 
made,  it  seemed  to  him  that  we  might  regard  the  success  of 
the  next  efibrt  as  absolutely  certain.    When  other  enterprises 


25 

nearly  as  great  Lave  been  successfnilj  accomplished,  and  in 
^locessful  operation  for  many  years  in  European  Waters- 
waters  not  80  deep,  perhaps,  but  otherwise  alike-there  can 
be  no  longer  any  doubt  of  the  success  of  this. 

Nor  can  there  be  the  smallest  doubt  of  the  advantages  to 
be  secured  by  it  to  the  world  at  large.  It  will  be  one  of  the 
g.eatest  steps  in  human  progress  taken  in  this  age.  All 
telegraph  enterprises  have  been  successful  and  remunerative, 
bomeot  thorn  to  an  extreme  degree ;  and  this  one,  he  had 
no  doubt,  m  this  reopecS  would  eclipse  all  that  have  gone 
before  it.  With  a  view  of  testifying  his  opinion  of  the  mat- 
ter he  would  put  down  his  name  for  £500,  and  after  looking 
at  the  matter  more  carefully,  he  should  be  ready  to  subscribe 
more  largely. 

Mr.  Dodge  said,  that  in  addition  to  calling  a  public  meeting, 
the  Committee  ought  to  prepare  a  condensed  statement  of 
proceedings  thus  far,  the  opinions  entertained  in  England 
and  here  ot  the  great  importance  of  the  work  &c 

The  Chairman  thought  that  was  a  duty  the  Committee 
Itself  would  assume. 

This  closed  the  proceedings,  and,  on  motion  of 

.   ^''  5  ^;  ^^7' 'h«  thanks  of  the  meeting  were  returned 
-0  the  Chamber  of  Commerce  for  the  use  of  the  room 
Whereupon  the  meeting  adjourned. 


New- York,  March  4, 1863. 


John  Austin  Stevens,  Jr., 

Secretary, 


8 


■> 


26 


. :'  I 


fc'{5   ^   <'*•,*   »T  *r  ??   «0   •*   X»  •*.  '^■■*'f^'H 


'tk  d  d  oi  oi  o)  «6'6i9  ^o<«  (A'^  ^  r-   a  a 


rH   rH  «e 


o 
00 


t^    'fe'^ 


5- «  a       ... 

'^^^'^^  •     -        ..-If. 

'.   •  •: .   'J    •.   •     «     •  '  rf  I.    ^     « 


ti  1' 


oi)»r'.oorf»'.4o<3»oib>5©©<5o«jo 
eocoo     •ooSooOrHrHt-eor-ccgoooejOw 


1;    •I'l:; 

I  'I 


I 


M'I'l'  '.- 


;  i<^".- 


J^3 

5II 


•.'I;  f. 


.;') 


i 


■1   !    f!    '1 


o©  ©«?  »5  c  oi  eobc*  to!o«i  est  «"•*'•«(?  *'o  S  «'  r-j  a  o'«  w  w 
i-<  Ti  04  CO  la  ri  kS 


e 


,'..,  . '  .r.  ...-i  :ji  .  .!'.  •  J 


I 


~'j.;,Mi;i 


-e 


■3 


n 


■J     O     !■• 


5?.  d  -d  -d   P'  o  d'  ©\o  ;5'o   fi  -d   2   »  ^  d   fed   g^  .Js   «   d  J^  o   o   o  ^ 


'I' 


•o  "o  "O  "O  .S  "O  "d  "O  13 

«s  (o  -^  CO- 

>      ,    .     )■ 


!| 


c/?      ,  ■.  ,     ^,        .CO..     ^,W)  P,..    tB;|S   a.      .'      ■■! 

,;fi!*'''  :i:  1  ."    •  ('    1 


.tJ 


'> 


;:.  :i'iilj 


u    _r  el 

5  "S  T3 

P  U  m 


I 


«• 


« 


1   §• 


S    3 


;)::f 


CO    00 


.   o 

3 


.3  ^-1 


<«  .S 


:  -  5  a  -s 


5  iJ  .H 


^  O 


■s 


id'i 


u    oa    H 
®    o    ** 

S  6^ 


II 

Is 


^ 


«°  h 


at 

9  " 

3    "^ 
O     V 


.  o 


\ 

3 

o 

l^ 

a 

el 

00 

g 

n 

fti* 

O 

CJ 

izi-<l 

u 


ef   : 


a 
o 


;.i:fi   : 


-:  > 

=   3   -   2  -C 

«    ~     OI     ».  ■• 

^1  iS  g  2 

3     ^     O    .£:  CI 

W  to  Pt<  i-l  ■<) 


.  13 
V    3 

cart 
^^ 


S-? 


«     3 
4)     u 


:  .3 

:  pM 
■  » 


«    .3 


to 

a 


:rf   :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   ; 

•S<nc*a5ooa5ti6coa6coo6oocococjoco(»oocO(/)aOcoa6cOooccco</j 
5l*HrHrHr-1rHrHTlfHrirlr1THiHTirlrHTHr.HTHr1rHT-*rHrlrHiHiHrli-tfH 
« 
Q 

q   :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::   : 

b.  T^e*»'^tatot^aS'e^c>ySe*W'^ttitSt^(oeS'eS'T^e^oi'«iiitSt^t£'eS'o' 

•S  lHi-lT-lr-lT-<rHr-lT-trHr-l04C<04CSle4««O0<e<C<00 


9 


s 


